Painting the town blue
Homecoming just isn’t Homecoming without a bunch of students covered in paint and playing in the street.
Maren Forsberg, of the Homecoming Committee, said street painting has been a tradition at Utah State University for several years.
“Each club is unique and it’s fun to contribute to Aggie spirit,” Forsberg said.
The clubs and organizations associated with USU get an opportunity to represent their club and school pride when they paint the street, she said.
So what represents school spirit? A big, blue, raging bull – that’s what.
Tracey Torman, a junior in physical education and the public relations chair for the ASUSU Athletics Committee, said the Athletics Committee used street painting to take the opportunity to promote the design for the new game-day shirts.
“The design was finished last weekend,” Torman said. “We’re really excited about the shirts.
John Young, an art history major, took a picture of the bronze bull on the corner of 1000 N. 800 East, Torman said. He used the picture as a guide to design the bull that will be on the back of the new game-day shirts, which is now painted in front of the parking terrace, she said.
Rosie Strong, a junior in dietetics and the Athletics vice president, said the whole point of the Athletics Committee is to spread school spirit. Pride is derived in athletics, she said.
“The Athletics Committee is not necessarily unique, it unites the campus,” Strong said.
The one thing that is unique is the new design of the bull, she said.
The bull on the street is blue with a white background, which is inverted from what the game-day shirts will be, she said. The bull on the street in front of the terrace is about 25 by 15 feet.
Forsberg said the fraternities and sororities on 800 East paint in front of their own houses.
Alexis Lear, a junior in public relations and the president of Chi Omega, said the sorority has been involved with Homecoming activities as long a they’ve been around.
“We love street painting,” Lear said. “It’s a chance for everyone to be doing the same thing.
She said their design was based on the Homecoming theme of transformation. The girls of Chi Omega are transitioning from scholarship activities to being involved on campus.
“The design shows the transition of who we are as girls,” Lear said.
She said they have fun, they’re involved on campus and they work hard to keep their grades up. The picture in front their house illustrates this through friendship, scholarships and on-campus activities.
Sarah Reale, a student in public relations, drew the design when she was class, Lear said. Reale knew the theme, Lear said, so she drew something that would go along with it.
“Street painting gets everyone out there and excited to participate,” Lear said. “Everyone is excited about Homecoming.”
Forsberg said clubs paint up the main strip of campus, which is 700 North.
The police block the street and help direct traffic from 10 p.m. until midnight.
About 75 to 100 clubs were involved in street painting, Forsberg said. The Homecoming Committee sectioned off the street, and it is basically a first-come, first-served basis, though she said they do take recommendations. For example, the ROTC wanted to paint in front of their own building, so they got it.
The clubs and organizations are responsible for getting their own paint supplies. The only requirement is the paint has to be soluble, so it will naturally be washed away in the rain. The Homecoming Committee provided hot chocolate for the chilly particapants.
She said the Aggie atmosphere during Homecoming activities like street painting will stay strong.
“Once an Aggie, always and Aggie,” Forsberg said.
-hrw@cc.usu.edu
Students brave the cold Thursday night to paint the streets in preparation for Homecoming. Various clubs and organization painted 700 North Thursday night.